Why meaning and translation still matter today
Mathew Rongmei
Zeliangrong Colony, Dimapur
The Bible is one of the most read books in the world. Many people find hope and guidance in it. But at the same time, many also find it hard to understand. Questions often come up about its meaning, its language, and why different versions say different things. Recently, even in a strongly Christian place like Nagaland, the Bible has become a topic of public debate. This shows how sensitive and important translation can be.
Bible translation in Northeast India began in the early 19th century, starting with the Assamese Bible. In Nagaland, the process began later in the 1870s with the arrival of missionaries like Edward Winter Clark, who first translated hymns and basic Christian texts among the Naga tribes. Since most Naga languages were oral, translation required developing scripts and learning local speech. As a result, complete Bible translations in major Naga languages appeared only from the 1960s onwards.
The Bible is not just one book. It is a collection of many writings made over hundreds of years. These writings came from places like Ancient Israel, Judah, Babylon and the Roman Empire. They were first written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. At that time, there were no chapters or verse numbers. Those were added later to make reading easier.
Many different people wrote the Bible. Some were leaders, some were prophets, and some were followers of Jesus. Names often linked to the Bible include Moses, David, Isaiah and Paul. Christians believe these writers were guided by God, but they still used their own words and experiences.
The Bible was not put together all at once. Over time, religious leaders collected and accepted certain writings as holy. The Old Testament was preserved by Jewish scribes. Later, early Christians collected the teachings of Jesus and letters written by His followers. By around the 4th century, Church councils agreed on the books that make up the New Testament.
There are also differences between Christian groups. The Catholic Bible has 73 books, while the Protestant Bible has 66. The difference comes from some extra books included by Catholics but not by Protestants. These differences show that even in history, people did not always fully agree on the Bible.
One major reason the Bible is difficult is its style. It includes many types of writing—stories, poems, laws, and teachings. Jesus often used stories (parables) to teach lessons. These are not always direct and need thinking to understand.
Another big reason is translation. The Bible was written in ancient languages, so it has been translated many times. But not every word has the exact same meaning in another language. Sometimes culture, expressions, and ideas do not match. Because of this, meaning can change slightly in translation.
This problem can be seen clearly in recent events in Nagaland. A revised Sümi-language Bible has caused controversy. Some groups say that certain words and meanings have been changed too much. They feel that the new version does not reflect the original meaning or their cultural identity. Because of this, there have even been demands to recall the Bible copies.
This issue shows something important: translating the Bible is not easy. It is not just about language, but also about faith, culture, and identity. Even small changes in words can create big reactions.
A good example of how meaning can be misunderstood is found in Luke 12:49–53. In this passage, Jesus talks about bringing division, not peace. At first, this sounds confusing. But the deeper meaning is that truth makes people choose, and different choices can lead to disagreement—even in families.
In the end, the Bible is a deep and complex book. It has been shaped by time, language, and people. Its difficulty is not a weakness, but a sign of its richness.
For readers today, the best way is not to rush, but to read slowly and think deeply. The Bible is not just to be read—it is to be understood with patience and prayer. Only then can its message truly make sense in our lives.
